near to Watchfield, Oxfordshire, Great Britain

Westmill wind farm, Watchfield - a new landmark

This is a slightly tighter view of the windfarm in the next county, construction of which has largely been completed (it is expected to start generating later this month). Plans for a windfarm on the old wartime airfield at Watchfield had their genesis in 1999 so it has taken 8 years for those plans to be realised. Even now people are objecting to what is now a fait accompli including one woman who moved into Shrivenham in 2004 - after planning permission had been granted. The viewpoint is the north-facing shoulder of Liddington Hill below the clump of trees in this image SU2180 : Liddington Hill, south of Swindon - beech clump Next image SU2491 : Westmill wind farm, Watchfield 1st February 2008 For a view of the viewpoint from the wind farm see this one Link

Discussion on SU2491

There are quite a few images of this windfarm. As one who regular walks across our fair land and who is heavily involved in conservation and environemntal work - and has walked around Uffington regularly I am not convinced by the benefits of windpower as opposed to the permanent visual blight they cause to our ancient landscape. Personally I find them as intrusive as I would find a new industrial estate for example. Once these views are despoiled others will never be able to enjoy the views that we once did. Perhaps off shore wind farms and solar power would be a better approach than carpeting the country in wind turbines which seem to me to be supported by heavy government subsidies to be worthwhile or profitable.